$500,000 of unmet flood recovery needs

August 15, 2007|By Scott Waltman, American News Writer

The cost of unmet recovery needs for people impacted by spring flooding in the region is more than $500,000, Back on Track officials said. Back On Track is a long-term recovery group that formed as floodwaters were receding. People involved in the group spoke to the Brown County Commission on Tuesday. They said the half-million-dollar price tag is beyond what groups like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration have been able to provide to individuals. “We're now in a position to begin to help,” said Back On Track president Bill McQuillen. Still, he said, the nonprofit group needs somebody to solicit funds. He said Back On Track has about 10 percent of what it needs to cover the cost of long-term needs. Those needs, he said, range from major construction to clothes and from furniture to emotional help. McQuillen said people helping Back On Track recently visited most homes in Aberdeen asking people what needs remain. From those visits, a database has been compiled, he said. About a dozen case workers have been trained to help. Needs will be kept confidential, McQuillen said. McQuillen said he thinks the money needed to respond to long-term needs is available. It just has to be solicited. Scott Meints, the county Emergency Management director, has also been involved with Back On Track. He said he has been tracking FEMA-eligible costs. The total is not yet public, he said, but it's staggering. Back On Track officials asked if a county commissioner could sit on the group's steering committee. Commissioner Nancy Hansen will fill the role. Laurie Swanson, who handles public relations for Back On Track, said the group's office is at Faith United Methodist Church, 503 S. Jay St., Aberdeen. The telephone number is (605) 262-0467. Swanson said Back On Track's aim for the flood is to serve Brown and Spink counties. And, she said, its aim is to be around long-term to help respond to future disasters in the region. The Dakotas